Dating Over 40: How Single Women Can Make the Most of Valentine’s Day

Well, we made it – the final day of the Valentine’s Week Blog-a-thon. It’s been incredibly fun and very exciting connecting with all these fabulous dating experts across the country. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have AND, we hope this helps you have a fun and memorable Valentine’s Day.

The post below is mine – from Ronnie Ann Ryan – The Dating Coach. I’ve been a dating coach for 8 years now and since I found love and married for the first time over 40, I know you can do it too! Whether or not you’re marriage-minded, finding love is a real possibility. Hopefully, you have a firm grasp on the idea so it’s firmlyembedded into your psyche. I’ve worked with over 2,000 people to successfully jump start or accelerate their search for love. People fall in love every day – why not you?

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Crazy as this may sound, one of the best Valentine’s Days I ever had was right after I broke up with a boyfriend. I was upset and unhappy. So, I spent some time thinking about what would make me happy and be fun. I came up with this list and let me tell you – it worked like a charm!

If you are single and dating over 40 or dating after divorce, try some of these ideas yourself this year on Valentine’s Day and see if the holiday passes with greater ease, and even some joy!

Buy Flowers for  Your Girlfriends!
That’s right – I bought my friends Jill and Michelle a big bunch of gorgeous flowers, and some for me too of course! They were totally thrilled and I was too when I saw the appreciative look on their faces.

Have Dinner with Friends
We went out to a nice restaurant and enjoyed the meal we’d like to have had with a partner. The meal was truly memorable with yummy seafood and decadent chocolate cake for dessert. We deserved the best regardless of our relationship status!

Toast Your Friends and Your Life
Yeah, we even went for the champagne.  We toasted the good things in our lives and each other. Then we made wishes for the following year and the next Valentine’s Day.

Buy Cards for Friends and Neighbors
Do you know someone who is sick, single, older and/or alone? Is there someone who often helps you at work? Brighten their day and yours by remembering them on Valentine’s Day. We gave Valentine’s to everyone in our classes in grade school – return to this practice and watch the smiles!

Buy Treats for Your Pets
Sometimes there’s nothing better than the unconditional love of a pet. Treat them well on Valentine’s Day to enjoy the love they share with you all year round.

Celebrate with Your Children
Your kids can make your Valentine’s Day very special. Make a big deal of the holiday for them. Cook a special meal, put chocolate hearts in their lunch boxes, or have a family game night. Whatever your family would like – do it up and share the love.

Smile All Day Long
There are plenty of singles who might feel down on Valentine’s Day. You can brighten their day and yours at the same time with something as simple as a smile. When you catch a man’s eye, smile back to acknowledge him. There’s no promise of anything more – but this can make someone’s day and yours too. Smile often enough and it may even become a habit! You can’t lose when you flash those pearly whites.

It’s Just One day
This is what I tell my over 40 dating coaching clients. -if none of these suggestions work for you, then keep this happy thought in mind. Valentine’s Day is just one day, once a year. It will pass quickly and then you can go back to life as usual. On the other hand, try something new from the list above. I’m sure you’ll be glad you did.

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Want more Blog-a-thon? Great!
To read posts from all the other days this week, see links below and enjoy.

To read Day 1 by the Dating Goddess, midlife dating expert click here
To read Day 2 by Alyssa Johnson, relationship after divorce expert  click here
To read Day 3 by Laurie Davis, eFlirt Expert and co-host of LoveNation click here
To read Day 4 by SingleMomSeeking, top-rated single mom blogger click here
To read Day 5 by Terry Hernon MacDonald, happily married dating blogger click here
To read Day 6 by DeAnna Lorraine, Dating – Relationship Coach & NLP Practitioner click here

photo credit LuLu

Dating Over 40: Ideas for Women Who Are Sweetie-less for Valentine’s Day

Welcome to the first day of the Valentine”s Week Blog-a-thon,  featuring a variety of dating experts and guest bloggers from around the US. Every day this week, I’ll post a new article from another expert who will share their dating wisdom and tips with you. Don’t miss a single “episode”! Subscribe to my blog and get them delivered to your inbox – or  stop by daily.

Today’s guest blogger and dating expert is The Dating Goddess who is dedicated to providing uncommon information, insights and advice for midlife women reentering the dating world. The DatingGoddess.com is one of the top-ranked sites for dating and has published more than a dozen books about dating in the Adventures in Delicious Dating After 40 book series.

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Valentine’s Day is meant for lovers. So what if you are alone for this day designed to celebrate love? There are many ways to spend the day wrapped in love, even if you are without a sweetie. The new book  Assessing Your Assets: Why You’re A Great Catch helps articulate your positive attributes.

What if you are like many women who are dating, but without a regular sweetie with whom to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Perhaps you’ve been dating around, but there’s no one with whom it makes sense to get all lovey-dovey on this, the snuggle fest of holidays. Or maybe you have yet to stick your toe in the dating pool.

The Dating Goddess, author of the Adventures in Delicious Dating After 40 13-book series has some ideas for you:

• Remind yourself what a terrific catch you are. In her book, Assessing Your Assets: Why You’re A Great Catch, the Dating Goddess says, “Make a list of all the things you love and appreciate about you. It’s easy to focus on what we don’t like about ourselves. But this is the day to be your own valentine. Write yourself a poem. Put on fresh sheets. Buy your favorite flowers. Fix your favorite meal.”
• Treat yourself as your valentine. Do for yourself what makes you feel loved. Do something you like to do that you don’t do very often: draw a warm bath, play favorite music, light candles and relax. Or order take out, get in your jammies early and snuggle down with a DVD. Or turn up the stereo and dance to your favorite music. Indulge and enjoy what you love to do.
• Take yourself out for the day or evening, but not to places frequented by couples. Is there a new exhibit at the museum you’ve wanted to see? Been wanting to luxuriate with a massage? Haven’t had a facial or pedicure in a while? Pamper yourself just and show yourself some love.
• Meet up with some gal pals for a group pedicure, hike, movie or night on the town. Initiate a group exercise where you all tell each of the others one thing you admire about her. It will feel like a group hug!
• Show your appreciation to loved ones. Send free virtual bouquets from flowers2mail.com along with a note on why you’re glad they’re in your life. Send an online valentine card. Call to tell someone what a difference they make to you. Most of us don’t get enough acknowledgment. You’ll be amazed how much love you get back just by sharing some with others.

So don’t let it get you down if you don’t have a steady beau in your life to shower you with affection. You already have a steady love — you! Don’t take yourself for granted!

If you don’t have a special someone with whom to share Valentine’s Day, have a great date with the Dating Goddess and her new books.  Order from www.DatingGoddess.com

Want to read more of the blog-a-thon? Great! See links below:

Day 2 – Alyssa Johnson,  relationships after divorce expert click here
Day 3 – Laurie Davis, the eFlirt Expert  click here